32 Week Update - Countdown is ON!

Prayers answered! 32 weeks tomorrow. 

To address my recent Facebook status:

I had been pretty itchy for a couple of weeks, abnormally itchy.  I just happen to read a little info blip one of my baby apps that said if I was more than usually itchy, maybe have the doctor look into it. 

I had my last regular OB apt on Friday and they drew blood, but didn't really think anything of it. I was just happy she took my concern seriously. I had gotten a phone call from the nurse yesterday wanting me to come back in 'today' (being Tuesday) to get more blood work done, and have it done in time for my high risk apt this morning (Wednesday).  

It concerned me that they wanted me to come back so soon, and couldn't wait literally two days till my next appointment to draw the blood. 

I had reached out to my twin mommy group and asked if any one else had been diagnosed with Cholestasis, and a couple of them have and it led to being induced early (as in 31,32,35 weeks). *sound the alarms*

Cholestasis = when the kidney is producing to much bile acid for the gallbladder to handle, the bile acid can get into my blood stream and affect the babies to where it would be to much work for their kidneys to work out. This can also make them poop sooner than they're really supposed to ending up having meconium in their amniotic fluid. Both of these scenario's end up in inducing/emerg c-sec/some sort of immediate action to be required. 

The only symptom is being really itchy (weird). And I caught it early as my levels were 2x the normal person. 

SO...  My high risk apt when fine. I did pack my bags just in case he was going to tell me to go to the hospital! 

Doc is putting me on medicine to help slow down the bile acid production. I'll be getting blood work weekly to make sure of it. There is still high risk to the babies, and I will be going to both the regular OB and high risk on a weekly basis now until birth. If I haven't given birth my 36 weeks (June 2nd), then I will be induced then, but really - it could be any day, so I'm hanging on to each week for dear life. Positioning - they were both head down, but now have moved back up and are both breach. Just means a c-section. I don't care either way, just as long as I don't end up with both a natural and a c sec. 

These babies are HUGE!  Baby boy, weighing in at 5.3 pounds already!!!  Baby girl, weighing in at 4.9.  

The NICU does not go by weight, but by a scale. So as long as they are eating, gaining weight, responding ,growing, etc - its very possible that we can avoid the NICU all together. 

Other than that, we're all doing pretty good. Doc is pretty impressed by their weight, and good with my weight ;)  

The nursery is coming together, as soon as we're done I'll take pictures. And just a few more things to button up around the house, organize, etc.  But I'm ready! I keep having dreams that they're here, pink and plump. 

I'll most definitely keep y'all updated. Keep praying!! 

With <3

Kimberly, Seth + Babies  :) 

23 Week Update

Annnnd, my 1st bump picture.
If it looks like I'm tired it's because I am! 

My has time flown by! How is that I'm already half way through the 2nd trimester, 23 weeks, more than half way through this pregnancy??
I still feel like I have a long way to go, 4 more months God willing.
It was a lot of fun revealing the genders of the babies. And I think we have names on lock down! They'll be a secret until birth.  ;)

Let me 1st give a huge shout out to my one and only, Seth has been absolutely AMAZING. Taking care of my every need, want, and craving.

Because I've been in to see the High Risk doctor every other week since week 12, they've been getting the anatomy all along. So I didn't have that "20 week scan." But so far they are measuring 1.4 and 1.5 pound each, heart rates are great at 154 and 156. Everything is perfect. "Don't change a thing." ~ The doctor  :)

Currently they are on top of one another. Baby girl is laying head to the right with feet to the left, and baby boy is right on top of her.

I'm feeling pretty good these days. The occasional headache, that sometimes turns into a migraine. And the occasional heart burn that sometimes turns into a bad acid reflux attack. Not fun.
 

I am feeling the babies move allll of the time now. Sometimes enough to make mamma sore!
This past week and more so every day, I'm able to feel them through the belly. At first it was weird, like something is moving in there! But now I'm obsessed with following their movements so I can feel them on the outside. Its pretty incredible.

My little monster - he's looking right at the "camera."

You can see the ear on the side of the head, the eye sockets,

and nasal bone that's highlighted in the white.

Baby Girl, looking as precious as ever

I was able to quit my 2nd job just after 22 weeks, so my energy has come flooding back. I'm in full nesting/organizational mood. After an "exploratory" trip to IKEA I now have a lot of ideas for the nursery. I'll be sure to take before/after pictures. I think I've finally gotten to the fun part of being pregnant.

The Placenta Previa that I was diagnosed with just after 19 weeks has fully resolved! Praise the Lord! Meaning baby girl has moved on up. No more complications for the mean time! And my thyroid seems to be getting its stuff straightened out too. I hadn't gained much weight because my thyroid went from extremely low, up to mildly high, and now I'm THIS close to being in the 'normal' range. Having a higher thyroid level does not hurt the babies, so we're fine!

I go back to the high risk in two weeks. They'll be doing a test called Fetal Fibronectin testing. Basically it's a test to see if the fibronectin (the "glue" holding the babies in there) is starting to deteriorate, meaning I would be at a high risk for pre-term labor. This time around I ask for prayers that I pass this test with flying colors! I want them here, but not that bad!

I'm finally happy with my list's and polished them off. By the time we were done, and got to the clothes part we just fired the little gun at anything. So there's not a lot of clothes on our list. So if you find something to cute to pass up, it's always welcome. Hand me downs are always an option too!

Registries:
Target: Search by: Kimberly Taylor
Babies R'Us:  Search by: Kimberly & Seth Taylor. Registry #: 57821312.

Stay tuned very shortly for address request's! Baby shower will probably be in April <3

With Love,
Kimberly & Seth + babies

The Taylor Twins Are.......?

Drum Roll Please.......

 

 

Baby B is a BOY!  And I just KNEW it! 

Baby Boy Foot

Handsome Baby Boy Profile

Was really happy to hear this was a girl.
I cried when the tech told me it was a girl.

Baby Girl Foot

Beautiful Baby Girl Profile

Are we done having children? Probably not!  I'll want to squeeze one more baby in a few years. But then again, we'll probably have to go through treatments again and who knows how my eggs will fair then. Cross that bridge when we get to it I suppose. For now, I'll have my hands full. <3   :)

Things have been going wonderfully. Perfect little babies. I just had my 18w check in, and they are weighing 9oz each. No exact measurements, but my apps all say anywhere b/t 6-7 inches long. Keep in mind they're squeezed in there. I can feel them internally sometimes. Like when they go from breech to transverse position. (head up to side to side).
Since I go to the high risk every other week, they've been getting the anatomy scanned each time I go, and things couldn't be better. So that means I won't have the "20 week anatomy" scan. They just need to get a few more items (as they grow).

I had another complication pop up this visit (18w), Placenta Previa. The doctor doesn't seem to be to worried, and that it should resolve itself with the growth of the girl. But if it doesn't that could just mean more complications down the road, and definitely a c-section.
Do I have a birth plan? That would be a no! With twins, anything can happen. So the best I can do is just be an informed patient and be prepared for anything.

Do I have a registry? Not yet... We wanted to wait and find out the genders before planing on anything. Will be working on this in February. Will post an update when its all said and done.

I'm feeling pretty good these days. Still get a headache/migraine every so often. A little bit of acid re flux/heart burn.  Still waiting on that energy to show up, but working 2 jobs probably doesn't help that. I'm just about exclusively in all maternity clothes. Maybe I'll be brave and start posting "bump" pictures soon.

I'm so happy to be able to share this news with you. We are to blessed to have such a support system. I ask for prayers for the Placenta Previa. I pray that this resolves itself and no other major complications show up. I'm just over the half way mark if the Lord see's that I make it to 36 weeks.

I look forward to sharing more as the weeks continue to pass! And YAY for an early spring!

With Love,
Kimberly & Seth

Our BIG BIG News! Twin journey up to 12 weeks

My goodness, where I do even start? So lets rewind to where I sent out my last message that we were about to start fertility treatments. Given that we were able to get pregnant on our own before, that's where I kind of wanted to start in this process. We had decided to to 2/3 rounds of 'regular' trying with me just being on medications.

Our 1st round of treatments was of course unsuccessful and was more intense than I thought it was going to be. Every-day was something; medication, monitoring appointments, injections, blood draws, pee sticks, stressing about how many follicles/eggs I'd end up with. It was a lot, on top of working two jobs to be able to afford it all. I was exhausted in every sense of the word.

But we jumped right into the second cycle, clear headed and ready to go. I think from the beginning of this cycle I just felt better. I guess it was because I knew what to expect this time. I took my medicine, injections in my tummy, my body was responding really well this time. The nurses were almost going to 'cancel' the cycle on me because I had to many eggs (!!!  I've never been told that in my life). My case quickly went through two nurses, and eventually back to my doctor. My doctor calls me the same day we found out I had 4 shiny eggs ready to go, and she warned me about the risk of multiples. I had said that I was ok with that, and she let us move forward with the timed trying. That night I took my trigger shot (another injection to release the eggs from the ovaries) and we did the baby dance.
That's when the "two week wait" starts. Luckily, learning from last time, I stacked my week up with activities, personal training, working job #2, keeping my mind off what could or could not be happening.
But I broke down on the Monday before my blood test (beta) and took a hpt and it was negative. I was devastated. I had been so excited about this round, that this one could finally be the one after years and years. Friday rolls around, and I go in for my beta test, and the nurse was like 'did you cheat? (take a hpt). I said yes I did, and its a 'no.' She responded back, well lets just wait and see. You never know. But I didn't even give it a second thought. I was already thinking about round #3 and if I was mentally ready for it after such a disappointment, and on top of that my thyroid starting acting up again and I might of had to wait till 2016 anyways (deciding already that we would wait out December b/c of the holidays).

Later that Friday, the nurse calls:
"Hello, is this Kimberly?"
"Yes..."
"Well Kimberly, I have some good news for you.."
"Noooooooo way..."
"Yes, you're pregnant!"
"No! I'm not!"
"Yes you are! Now stop it."

Went back to the clinic two more times to make sure the beta's doubled. Meaning, my beta (blood test) was 214 on Friday. Monday it tripled to over 700, then again on wed over 1400. I kind of had an inclining that it might be twins at this point, just comparing to the figures I of course googled at the time.
We found out at 6 weeks it was twins - fraternal. They are di-di for anyone interested in the science of it all. There are 4 types of twins, and di di are the best kind of twins, less complications since they are in separate sacs.

6w 3days

Right after we hit 8 weeks, I ended up getting a Subchorionic Hemorrhage, where a collection of blood clots gather around the placenta and tear. It completely frightened me, and I thought, well - here we go again. But we went to the doctors in the morning and as soon as they went in, they found both babies doing just perfect. I haven't had a complication since.

8w 4days. So much growth!

We "graduated" from our fertility clinic at 9 weeks and had our next 'real' appointment (that normal pregnant people get) at 10+week at an OB.

These are 10 weeks 6 days

Because I'm having twins, I'm considered high risk. So Seth and I went to our 1st high risk doctor on Dec 21st and had our 12+ weeks scan. The big thing about this particular scan was seeing if there were any signs of downs. They measured the neck of both babies, and if they measured more than 3mm wide, the doctor would probably suggest a more invasive test to get more information. For a second, that had me worried b/c of course the tech didn't tell us the measurements and I was just enamored by what was showing on the screen. I'm happy to announce that both babies only measured 1.7 -so we're fiiiiiiine!
I can't believe we have been so blessed. God choose me to carry and deliver two lives into this world. Wow! 

Please continue to pray for us, as our lives will be adjusting to having two babies in the very near future. 6 months will fly by real fast, and as each week goes by I'm getting a little overwhelmed. But I'll get there. I plan on sharing post's like this one every few weeks to keep everyone updated. 

I'll end this post with a "See ya in 2016!"

With Love, 

Kimberly & Seth (& family :) )

End of Summer Catch Up

I hope you all are doing well! How is it almost the end of summer already? Though, I have to admit I'm kind of looking forward to cooler temp's and the changing of the seasons. With change, comes hope.

Its time for an update! My last post was about having gone through our loss and the plan was to try all summer to repeat the luck I had in January, on our own with no medical help.
After much trying and no such luck and after some brief sadness and confusion in the early months of summer (why me? why not?) I feel like I've come out the other side of this all and I'm ready to move forward to the next stage, an acceptance of sorts. I've got my armor back on, and my head is back in the game and I'm ready. Not that I necessarily need that guard up, as my worst fear has already happened, but now I think I'll be able to handle absolutely everything that will be thrown my way.

And after much back + fourth with the car accident/insurance issues, I finally got a settlement and a new car at the end of March. Its another civic- 2015 -4 door. I was worried that I wouldn't have enough space for the twins I'm praying for. While waiting for the sales guy to pull up the car I picked out, I saw a mom get her baby out of the back seat of a.... 4 door civic. So I stopped her when she came inside and asked if she liked her car and if it made sense to have with a family. Her response made me feel much better about going for the smaller car rather than another CRV. She said she loved it, and that it worked out great. She has plenty of room for car seats and baby stuff in the trunk. So now, all I have to get is the baby(s).

After trying for so long -to date, it has been over 11 years and we are really just beginning our journey. We are beginning our 1st treated cycle, and however many more until I get my take home baby. Lately my mantra has been "It will happen the way its supposed to."  I continue to wonder, what the heck is my plan and admittedly struggle with that. But I have a bible verse that I lean on, A LOT, its right next to my computer at work "Do not worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God your needs and thank him for his answers; Philippians 6."

And I get signs every once in awhile that remind me that He is always there.

Its funny, I work a second part time job at a grocery store as a cashier -and the conversation always begins as "Hi, how are you?" and they either respond back or mumble something (different story for a different day). When the question is asked in return I always wonder how they would react when I would say "oh, you know just struggling through PCOS, with a side helping of a thyroid problem not the mention infertility & loss, and I'm about to shoot myself up with hormones with needles and drugs to see if that helps, but other than that I'm GREAT!"  So instead I say, "I'm doing pretty good." Which is honest, I am pretty good. Then there are those times I get a response back  as"its a blessed day, your alive and breathing," or "it could be worse!" That's true, even after everything I have gone through in just these last 12 months, it certainly could be worse. I take it as a little nudge from Him telling me to 'relax, I got you.'
Or more recently the time where I had three separate people in my line one after the other and they were all twins (had a twin sister/brother)! I had them rub my hands for good luck. What are the odds of that??

So, its back to the plan. Its the same one I was supposed to have started in February this year. I feel like its a standard, good way to start. We're taking it on the slower end of things at first to where there are no major changes to what we have been doing, except that I'm on 4 different medications and I'll be checking in with the doctors to see those follicles growing to make sure that I even do have eggs to get fertilized.
And then we'll go from there.
I am very blessed to have the best doctors in the area, who really do care about me and building my family, who have called me personally on a Saturday to say how sorry they were to hear that I had miscarried. To have offered me choices and plans but ended the conversation "its up to you." To have a nurse who is handling my case, who make sure she calls me back at any hour (the last call being at 9pm on her day off(!!!) )  to make sure I understand everything and answers all my questions. I have complete control of my path and sometimes that can be a rare thing to have when dealing with a team of doctors.

Going through and dealing with infertility and now loss is something that can be so intense and life consuming, but I'm trying my best to not let it take over my life, no time for that :)    Ever since my loss, its been about slowing way down and taking this process day by day, as anything could happen to stop me dead in my tracks. And I'm still in that mind frame. Day by day, cycle by cycle. And manage life in between and still working on 'me.'

I'll write an update when I feel like there's something to update you with. Sometimes I feel like crawling into a cave and not coming out, focusing only on myself and not get distracted with the world outside. And I think that's ok sometimes, almost like battling this alone (with the husband). That way I can keep quite and not have to report anything. Some days or weeks I just may do that. Do not be offended if I withdraw from you. Sometimes I wont/don't have the energy for anything other than getting myself through the next day. I'm just trying to cope with the emotional roller coaster I'm about to board.

I am however, looking forward to Gamecock Football!! The color of leaves changing in the mountains that surround us. The chill in the air. Hopefully getting in a hike or two before it gets really cold. Also getting in some day/weekend trips with the husband (including a Steeler football game against that 'purple' team). And seeing some friends I haven't seen in a while - I will make the effort I promise!

In closing, by the time you read this I will have already started the treatment processes. I ask as I move forward with the next stage of building my family I would appreciate any prayers, good vibes, happy thoughts my way. I encourage you to read those articles that either I or someone else post's. It just gives you a little bit more insight to what I or someone you know is going through. I'm so happy to see this area being shown out in the light of day because it shouldn't be hidden in the darkness. I'm always happy to have a conversation or answer any curious minds.

Until Next Time
With Love,
Kimberly & Seth